November Bulletin: Post-Election Edition
The Close of One Congress - and Preparing for Another
The election earlier this month surprised almost everyone. People across the country have since been adjusting both intellectually and emotionally as we move toward a Trump Administration and Republican control of both the House and Senate. The shock waves in Washington have been especially seismic, with policymakers recalibrating - and recalculating - how to position themselves and their agendas.
The same is true for advocates committed to battling childhood cancer. While the goals of developing better treatments, access to care and quality survivorship remain, the outcome of the election changes many of the strategies and approaches.
One thing is certain, however: Families and patients dedicated to the fight will need to be even more focused, more engaged and more vocal. CCCA will be aggressively targeting any threats to the welfare of our kids and, as always, alerting advocates when they need to make their voices heard.
But before a new Congress and Administration take over in January, there is some urgent unfinished business in the current 'lame-duck' Congress. These are especially critical to childhood cancer advocates - and everyone will need to make their voices heard in the next couple of weeks.
Read on to find out more about these bills and what you can do to help ensure their passage in the final 13 work-days of this legislative session.
Register Now for our 12/8 Webinar: What Does the New Administration Mean for Childhood Cancer?
Don't miss this Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy webinar, on the one month anniversary of the 2016 Election. Join us Thursday, December 8th at 5pm EST as we explore further what a Trump Administration could mean for childhood cancer, including:
- The outlook for childhood cancer research;
- The future of coverage for care;
- How to become an effective advocate; and
- How to help us launch the CCCA Kids Action Network.
George Dahlman, CEO of Children's Cause, and Ziky Ababiya, Legislative Assistant for Rep. Chris Van Hollen will present, along with a to-be-named Republican counterpart.
Registration for this webinar is limited!
New York Event Exceeds Fundraising Goal: Thank you!
The Children's Cause was pleased to host another successful reception and silent auction at the James Burden Mansion in New York City earlier this month. We're so grateful to everyone who supported this year's event, which helps make our year-round advocacy work possible.
A highlight of the lovely evening was the presentation of the first Leonard M. Rosen Memorial Research Award. As pictured above, Adam Rosen presented the award to Mary McCabe, Director of the Cancer Survivorship Initiative at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Ms. McCabe is widely recognized as a leader in cancer survivorship with the development of comprehensive programs for cancer survivors. In acknowledgement of the Award, Ms. McCabe will initiative a guest lectureship at MSK to focus on the ethics issues related to the development of new therapies for children including the issue of informed consent and specimen banks, novel clinical trial design, and how best to include children in the hoped-for benefits in targeted therapies.
We'd like to give special thanks to the Event Committee, especially event co-chairs Susan and Stephen Scherr and Lynn Bayard, and the many dedicated vendors and auction item donors for their generosity. We also thank the evening's sponsors: PhRMA, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Fennec Pharmaceuticals, Juno Therapeutics, Novartis Oncology, and Pfizer Oncology.
Visit our blog to learn more about the Rosen Award and view photos of the beautiful evening, captured by Sarah Merians Photography.
Consider Designs that Donate in Your Holiday Shopping!
If you're searching for beautiful jewelry and accessories this holiday season, we suggest you check out Designs that Donate. They find unique items from designers around the world and then donate a percentage of your purchase total to the charity of your choice.
We're excited to be a featured charity for the month of December on Designs that Donate, and we hope you'll show your support by shopping their site!
Check Your Year-End Giving Off Your List!
Yesterday was #GivingTuesday, and it marked the kick-off of our year-end giving campaign. We thank those of you who joined in the national movement to give back, after the flurry of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping.
Giving Tuesday may be over but the giving season has just begun. We are counting on your end-of-year generosity now more than ever, as we look ahead to the policy challenges facing children with cancer in 2017. (Bonus: If you check your year-end giving off your list today, we'll check you off our own list and spare you our December email appeals!)